***** Yogurtland, 2806 University Drive, Coral Springs, Florida 33056, (954) 354-0611.

When it rains, I guess it pours…one cupcake joint opens, another cupcake joint opens…and another and another and another…one self-serve yogurt joint opens, another self-serve yogurt joint opens—

Yogurtland is a “self serve” yogurt chain. Check www.yogurt-land.com for flavors/locations…for right now–for our purposes, there is a Yogurtland in Coral Springs, another in Pembroke Pines, another in Winter Park…but rest assured, in the coming months, many-more Yogurtlands will be rolled out.

I tried the Yogurtland in Coral Springs 3- Saturdays ago. I got there about 3pm and there must have been 30-35 people in the store getting yogurt. There were also 10-15 sitting outside eating yogurt…I “watched” the store for over 30 minutes and the folks just kept coming in…The way it works, you get a big cup—fill it with any combination of yogurt flavors (there are 16 daily rotating ones) and toppings—fruit, candy, nuts…get the cup weighed and pay 30 cents an ounce.

I am not a yogurt-fan…that said, I tried, vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and this-yogurt was one of the best that I have had. I will tell you, I also liked the “look” of the store…which you can check at Yogurtland’s website.

Personally, I think that this self-serve yogurt stuff will prove to be a huge fad…when this particular “game of musical chairs” ends- who knows, but I’ll bet you a green-tea yogurt, that it will eventually end.

Anyway…in the meantime, the bet here is that in the not to distant future, a self-serve yogurt joint will be coming to your neighborhood…you do remember video stores, don’t you? Same idea.

If yogurt is your game, I think that you will really enjoy Yogurtland. This chain which currently has spots in 8-states has the formula worked out real good.

Yogurtland is open 7-days a week 11am-11pm.

***** Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta, 1923 Cordova Road, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33316, (954) 832-9669.

Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta is one of the better “red sauce” pizza joints that I have eaten in–down here in old South Florida. Now you guys know, that over the years, to say the least–I’ve made the rounds…so to call Angelo’s one of the better ones– is quite a compliment.

Recently did dinner, “trying”…pizza (16” large plain–$12.95), veal parmigiana ($13.50), chicken piccata ($13.50), sausage & peppers ($12.50), lasagna ($12.50)…I’m telling you, give or take a handful, I can’t think of too many red-saucers that are better. By the way, Angelo’s makes GARLIC KNOTS that are absolutely off the chart…personally, I could eat 9 maybe 11 of them with a quart of ice cold Coke and call it a day…the perfect parmesan-oil combination.

For menu/prices you can check www.angelospizzapasta.com.

Angelo’s is open 7 days a week 11am-11pm.

***** Copper Canyon Grill, 2006 Northwest Executive Center, Boca Raton, Florida 33431 (561) 893-8838.

Back on September 12, 2009 I did a writeup on Copper Canyon…at that time, Copper was a new “American Style” restaurant which had just opened in Boca Raton. If you like, you can read or re-read that review at your leisure…suffice it to say, old Jeff Eats found Copper Canyon to be a total disaster…horrendous food and piss poor service.

Now, let’s fast forward to April, 2010…to make a long story short, I got a call from Mike “Bucky” Buckner who use to own Bucky’s BBQ (which use to be one of my favorite casual-bbq ribs restaurants in all of South Florida–why Bucky’s is no longer in business is a whole other story, but the quality of the food and service was never an issue at this joint…) in Boca Raton, which served outstanding bbq beef ribs–bbq pork ribs–bbq chicken–burgers–salads–sides. In a nutshell, Bucky told me that he had recently been made Copper Canyon’s GM.. was revamping its menu and had “improved” the food and service. Bucky asked me to “come by for dinner” and give Copper Canyon another shot.

A few weeks ago, my wife and a couple of friends took Bucky up on his offer. Just so you know, our meal was “comped”…

Here’s what I found…Decor-wise, Copper Canyon looks exactly as it did, the first time I was there. Think–Houston’s and you’ll know what the joint looks like. I really don’t recall the “exact” original menu…but the new one has a “fair” selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, meat-seafood-chicken entrees. You can check www.ccgrill.com for menu/prices—Personally, I think that the current menu is way too-light in the selection department…not enough appetizers or sandwiches to choose from. Now don’t get me wrong, no-one is going to starve here, but the selection is kind-a on the lame side. Hopefully, Bucky isn’t done “revamping” the menu!

Now for the food…I “sampled” bbq beef ribs, St. Louis bbq ribs, bacon cheeseburger, rotiserrie chicken, crab-cakes, french fries, macaroni & cheese, corn bread, caesar salad. Apparently– Bucky has taken-full control of the kitchen, because the food—is now quite good. Just a word to the wise, Bucky’s ” beef ribs” often have what I call a zing–to them, so if zing ain’t your style, mention to your waiter-waitress that you prefer a mild sauce.

On the service front…we had a terrific, attentive waiter. I will tell you, I watched “this guy” handle some other tables and he was also terrific-attentive with them…just in case Bucky had asked him to pay special attention to my group.

Let’s call Copper Canyon a work-in-progess. There is absolutely no question in my mind, that if Copper Canyon’s owners let Bucky RUN this joint his way, they will have a successful-homerun restaurant. Mike “Bucky Buckner (no relation to the Red Sox player who helped my New York Mets win the 1986 World Series) knows exactly how to please the folks of South Florida.

Cliche time…it is now safe to get back in the water.

Copper Canyon is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10:05pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-11:05pm.

***** The Fabulons *****

Something, a-bit different for you guys this morning…rather than telling you about “another” restaurant where you can stuff your faces, I thought I’d tell you about a terrific- local 1950s-1960s oldies band The Fabulons who have a load of FREE SHOWS scheduled this Summer down here in old South Florida.

The Fabulons…a 6 piece band, have been around for 25 years. Over the years, I have seen this band something like 10 times…as I said before they are terrific and do great covers of artists like The Beatles, Chubby Checker, The Drifters, The Beach Boys. You can check The Fabulons’ website www.fabulons.com for schedule/playlist.

So…if old Rock N Roll is your game, you now have a great group who will entertain you for free—this Summer.

***** Bokamper’s Sports Bar & Grill, 1280 South Pine Island Road, Plantation, Florida 33324 (954) 533-7152.

Bokamper’s is a terrific sports bar… owned & operated by former Miami Dolphins’ player, Kim Bokamper who played for Miami from 1976-1986. The joint has the “requisite” 12,000,000 flat screen tvs and a game-room for the kids. What sets this sports-joint apart from most of its South Florida bretheren is that it actually has some delicious-food.

Bokamper’s menu is loaded with appetizers, sandwiches, burgers, wings, meat-seafood-chicken appetizers. A recent outing had me “doing”…fried chicken sliders (4-$7.99), pulled pork sliders (4-$7.99), meat-burger slider (4-$7.99), meatloaf ($9.99), bbq babyback ribs (full rack-$15.99), garlic & teriyaki grilled wings (20-$15.99)—the food was real-good, with special mention going out to those wings, they were some of the best-sports bar wings that I have eaten.

Checkout www.bokampers.com for menu/prices/photos.

Bokamper’s is one of the best sports bars that I have been in. Great looking joint. Very competent and friendly staff. Real good food. Reasonable prices.

Bokamper’s is open 7 days a week 11:30am-2am. By the way, the joint does breakfast Saturday-Sunday 9am-noon.

***** Barone’s La Pizzeria, 5632 West Sample Road, Margate, Florida 33073 (954) 968-4396.

Barone’s La Pizzeria is a “Mom & Pop—red sauce” pizza joint located in Margate.
You can check its menu/prices at www.lapizzeriamargate.com.

You know and I know that “Mom & Pop” pizza joints are a dime a dozen-down here in old South Florida. I think the way it works…the strip center landlord first signs Publix, then Walgreens, then a Chinese takeout, then a pizza joint, then a dry cleaners…then a —-(you fill in the blanks)….then half of the businesses go bust…

Anyway, the other evening, I gave Barone’s La Pizzeria a shot- and I gotta tell you, the food is real-good. Jeff Eats’ party did pizza, shrimp scampi, veal parmigiana, meat lasagna, chicken & shrimp alfredo, penne ala vodka—and like I just said, real good!

As you know– over the past few years, old Jeff Eats has eaten-in his fair share of “Mom & Pop” Italian joints…and, to be perfectly honest with you, most of them barely get the job done, but then again, that’s the nature of the beast…”cheap is cheap”….”you get what you pay for”…”one if by land, 2 if by sea.” Trust me on this one, Barone’s La Pizzeria is REAL GOOD…if you live or work near the joint, I highly recommend that you give it a try.

By the way, Barone’s La Pizzeria is right across Sample Road from the Seminole Casino Coconut Creek and is maybe a 3-minute drive (west) from the Festival Flea Market on Sample Road.

Barone’s La Pizzeria is open Sunday-Thursday 11am-10pm and Friday-Saturday 11am-11pm.

***** Sweetness Bake Shop & Cafe, 9549 Sunset Drive, Miami, Florida 33173 (305) 271-7791.

OUTRAGEOULSY- delicious…cupcakes, cakes, confections, gelato—coffees & teas. Order/pickup at the counter.

Hope you aren’t diabetic.

Guaranteed, if you hang around Sweetness Bake Shop long enough, you will definitely need to do business with “SPANX” www.spanx.com…but that’s a whole ‘nother story for another day.

Check www.sweetnessbakeshop.net for menu/prices.

Sweetness Bake Shop & Cafe is open Monday-Thursday 10am-9pm, Friday-Saturday 10am-1am, Sunday 11am-7pm.

***** Mandarin Gourmet Donut Shoppe, Post Office Box 56-1165, Miami, Florida 33256 (305) 323-4999.

Unless- you have been living on the planet Pluto for the past year or so…you know–that GOURMET CUPCAKE STORES have been popping up like crazy all over South Florida.

That said…I like cupcakes, but I LOVE and I do mean LOVE…DONUTS.

Mandarin Gourmet Donut Shoppe is a GOURMET DONUT “maker.” There is no retail-store (rumor has it-that a Miami retail location is in the works for late 2010) but you can order and get donuts delivered (1 dozen minimum order) in Miami-Dade County, 7-days a week, 8am-noon. Menu/prices—www.mandaringourmetdonutshoppe.com.

Let me put it to you this way…I’ll bet you a nickel, that once you eat one of this joint’s donuts…you’ll have a huge problem getting future morning fixes from Dunkin’ Donuts or Krispy Kreme. I recently did a-gourmet glaze ($1.55), dark chocolate custard ($1.99), white chocolate dip ($1.55) and I gotta tell you…absolutely amazing.

Now…the donuts ain’t exactly cheap, but then again, you only live once.

By the way, Jerry’s Famous Deli and the Epricure Gourmet Market (both located in Miami Beach) “retail” some of Mandarin’s donuts…so, if you can’t handle the delivery-game or a dozen is too big of an order…you’ve got another way to go.

***** Carcione’s Pizzeria Italian Ristorante, 1019 West State Road 84, Fort Lauderdale, Florida 33315 (954) 530-7948.

You can thank me later for turning you on to this TAKEOUT pizza joint.

Carcione’s makes some heavy duty-delicious pizzas, pastas, subs, calzones, strombolis. On the price front–for example…the 6″ subs go for $4.25 and the most expensive 12 inchers are gonna run you $7.25. The joint also sells $2.35 slices.

I recently did a plain slice, chicken parm 6-incher and a 6″ sausage/peppers/onions…I’m telling you, the stuff is delicious. You can check the menu/prices at www.carciones.com.

This is a real good one. Keep in mind…only a couple of inside seats, so plan on eating-standing up outside, or in the car, or at home.

Carciones is open Monday-Thursday 10:30am-10:30pm, Friday-Saturday 10:30am-midnight, Sunday 11am-10pm.

***** Mario Ristorante Italiano and Wine Bar, 6370 North State Road 7, Coconut Creek, Florida 33073 (954) 420-3100.

$219…dinner for 4 last night. The “delicious” meal— baby mix green salad ($8 shared by 2), lasagna entree ($17 as an appetizer shared by 2), 2 branzino (sea bass) entrees ($33), veal chop parmigiana ($36), grilled veal chop ($35), 1 glass of ice-coffee ($3), 1 tartuffo ($7 shared by 4), tax & tip.

What in the world– Mario is doing in a crappy-half empty Coconut Creek shopping center is beyond me. Mario and his wife Nadia, 2 1/2 years ago– literally must have spent a fortune designing and building their gorgeous– upscale–top notch service–terrific food– Italian restaurant.

Anyway…if you’ve got the cash, and a couple of hours to eat (this ain’t some neighborhood red sauce pizza joint)– I think that you will really enjoy Mario.

The food is delicious, the joint is gorgeous, the service is as professional as can be.

Take a look www.Mario-Ristorante.com for menu/prices/photos-videos…this way you’ll know what you are getting yourself into.

Mario has a cute gimmick (Deco Drive did a tv segment)…there are 3 flat screen tvs in the dining room which “broadcast” the kitchen. It was kinda fun watching Mario and his staff prepare stuff…and in our-case, try and spot our dishes—now no wise-cracks, but as old Jeff ages I find small pleasures where-ever and when-ever I can.

Mario is open for dinner Tuesday-Sunday.